A Facebook cooldown is a temporary halt on account actions. Facebook does not announce it: it simply stops accepting posts, shows a generic error, or asks for verification. It is not a ban - which is exactly why it is the moment to prevent one.
How to recognise a cooldown
- The post appears to send but never shows up in the group.
- A generic error along the lines of "something went wrong, try again later".
- A sudden verification request - an SMS code or photo identification.
- A sharp drop in reach: the same listing gets ten views instead of a hundred.
What causes it
Almost always pace or repetition. Thirty posts in a fast burst, the identical text across dozens of groups, a repeating photo, or activity from a new IP after years in one place. Any two of those together is enough.
How long it lasts
- A light pause - 30 to 120 minutes. The most common.
- A medium one - 12 to 24 hours, usually after an ignored warning.
- A posting restriction - three to seven days, already a sign the account is flagged.
What to do and what not to
Do not keep trying. Every further attempt during a pause extends it and moves you closer to a real ban. Do not switch IP or turn on a VPN mid-way - that looks precisely like evasion.
Do stop completely for a few hours and come back at half your usual pace for a day or two. Do use the account normally meanwhile - read, comment, like. An account that keeps behaving like a person recovers faster.
A sane program does this by itself. The BuzzPost software detects the rate-limit error and pauses itself: 12 hours on the first block, 24 and 48 hours on consecutive ones. A Telegram alert goes out at the same time, instead of hammering at a closed door.
How to prevent it
- Spread posting across hours with randomised delays, not in a queue.
- A listing rewritten for each group rather than copied.
- A light change to the photo before every upload.
- A new account starts at 5-10 groups a day and builds up gradually.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cooldown the same as a ban?
No. A cooldown clears by itself within hours. A ban requires an appeal and is not always reversed.
Can I get around a cooldown with a second account?
You can, but if both accounts run from the same browser and address, Facebook links them and flags both. An isolated browser profile per account is a baseline requirement.